Letters from Overseas

December 2008

• Hexi Teachers College
  Zhange, Gansu Province
  China

Dear friends,

Warm greetings from China!

Turning to the stack of notebooks in front of me, I begin marking an assignment in creative writing. The topic: Names—the name you were given, the name you have earned and the name you would give yourself.

In reading these papers I learn much. One student writes of her birth:

On the night of my birth, the elders in my family stand waiting outside the door. As I take my first breath in this world the midwife announces the birth of a girl. Loud groans of disappointment accompany my first cry. As the first child in a peasant farming family, all hopes were on the birth of a boy. As I lie at my mother's breast, everyone is discussing what should be done with me. Most of the possibilities are not in my favour.

The final decision rests with my grandfather, the elder of the family and a shaman. After much thought he suggests that perhaps I might be kept even though I am a girl. If I were to be given a special name, that might change the family fate. In fact, I do remain in this family and I am given a name—a very special name. As fate would have it, one year later a boy is born in that same bed with those same people waiting outside the door. From that moment on, even though I am a girl, I have found favour in the family.

I finish reading this composition and give a mark to the student named Leading Forth Brother.

From another composition, I read:

We were always very poor. None of us, my two sisters, my younger brother nor I had ever gone to school. One evening I suddenly heard my parents discussing the possibility of sending one of us to school. After the harvest there was enough money to buy clothes, pencils and notebooks for one child. Which one of us would it be?
My parents decided that my two sisters were now big enough to help in the fields. My brother was too small. Could it be true that I was the one who would go to school? I could hardly believe my ears.

My student then describes how her parents and grandparents sat around the table to come up with a name for the child who would be going to school. Without a proper name she could not be registered.

I said my name, my beautiful name, over to myself again and again. I had a name. At nine years of age I would no longer be called Third Daughter. I had a name! A real name! At that time, having a name was more exciting to me than even the thought of going to school.

After I read these compositions I begin to think of all those who sit before me in those crowded classrooms each day. They all do have names. Some of them only because having a name is necessary for school registration. There is so much behind each of those names. So much.

At this time of year, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of one we sometimes name as the Prince of Peace.

We sing of this name, we read of this name, and we call upon this name. May each of us realize what is behind that name and the names of all those with whom we walk each day.

In his name the nations will put their hope.

Matthew 12:21 (NIV)

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas filled with hope.

Blessings,
Gary MacDonald

Gary McDonald is a United Church of Canada Overseas Personnel serving with the Amity Foundation in China. The work of this ecumenical partner and the work of overseas personnel are made possible through your gifts to the Mission and Service Fund of The United Church of Canada.